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“I’m all right,” the son said, smiling to hide his irritation. “I’m not worried about anything. I’m just worried about you. This—” he nodded with embarrassment to the dismantled showroom, the office from which even the calendars and wastepaper-basket had gone—“this—” what was the most tactful and sympathetic word to use?—“this is bad luck,” he said. “Bad luck?” said the old man sternly.

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage marks Harold’s first attempt to acknowledge explicitly his father’s situation and explain his own reason for visiting. The strained and “embarrass[ed]” attempt grants us insight into Harold’s personality. He smiles “to hide his irr...

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Original

Romeo

(aside) She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art though Romeo?
Deny they father and refuse they name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Modern

Romeo

(to himself) She speaks. Speak again, bright angel! For tonight you are as glorious, there up above me, as a winged messenger of heaven who makes mortals fall onto their backs to gaze up with awestruck eyes as he strides across the lazy clouds and sails through the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Why must you be Romeo? Deny your father and give up your name. Or, if you won’t change your name, just swear your love to me and I’ll give up being a Capulet.

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